Relief was the first thing they felt as Chaitanya Verma declared that it was all stress that had caused unwanted mechanism.

Just two days observation for the confirmation and Vani was free to go back home. Rakesh, Anita and Arshiya had gone to their house to prepare dinner and pick up some necessities for everyone despite the protest from Chaitanya Verma. He insisted to be the one to do it but Anita stopped him and asked him to spend some more time with Vani.

Vihaan had also followed them since their car had not yet been repaired. Now, there was a fight going on between Anu and Srishti about who was staying with Vani in the hospital to take care of her.

"I am staying here with her and that's final!" Anu exclaimed as she glared at Srishti, who returned it with the same fervor.

"Oh please, we all know you will fall asleep like you did few months back when Arshiya had an operation and poor Vani had to do everything alone." She snorted in an unladylike manner and Anu scowled at her.

"It was only one time!"

"Where's your guarantee card that says you will not repeat the same mistake again?!" Srishti asked with a triumphant smirk and Vani groaned out in protest.

"Please! No one has to stay back. Just go home and give me some peace." Vani glared at the two stupid girls fighting like children over some candy and Chaitanya chuckled seeing them fiddling under her gaze.

"Vanu, they are just trying to help you!" Her father kissed her forehead to calm her down and Vani snorted in response.

"More like trying to give me headache." Vani muttered still glaring at the two girls, prompting them to sat down on the couch with a finger on their lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rakesh and Anita ushered Vihaan inside their home and towards the drawing room. It was gorgeous- a lovely blue sofa set was placed at the center of the room, facing two light wood tables and the smart television. The wall behind the sofa was decorated with their family pictures. Vihaan even spotted some with her best friends like he expected, considering their bond and he smiled.

"You have a beautiful home, Mrs Sharma."

"Thank you." Anita smiled and asked him to have a seat. Vihaan sat down on the sofa, his countenance polite and Rakesh Sharma followed and sat beside him.

"Arshu, go get Vihaan some water. He must be thirsty." Anita looked pointedly at her daughter as she moped around the entrance of the drawing room.

Arshiya pursed her lips and hurried towards the kitchen and returned with a tray full of glasses of water.

"Have some water, Vihaan." Anita chimed as Arshiya offered the water to Vihaan with a polite smile to keep her parent's face. But deep inside, she wanted to strangle him- what did you do to me? Why does it hurt? What hurts? She didn't know.

"Thank you."

Vihaan smiled as he took one of the glasses. Vihaan had taken off his coat before he had drove them back to their house. The neckline of his white shirt was a little open and he had rolled up the sleeves up his arms, but it was overall neat and made him look more approachable.

"Vihaan, what do you like to eat?" Anita asked just as Vihaan put the glass down on the table. "How about some fruits- Arshu go get some fruits!"

Arshiya did as asked and returned with finely cut apples and pears.

"Come sit beside me, Arshiya." Anita patted the empty seat beside her but Arshiya declined.

"No, Ma. I have to pack some things for your three other daughters and when I say some, I mean a lot."

"That reminded me- Rakesh ji, you must pack some clothes for Chaitanya ji! He'd be the one to stay over with Vani, after all." Rakesh nodded and stood up, prompting Vihaan to stand up after him.

"Can I help somehow?"

"No- No. You are a guest-"

"It is fine. I want to."

"If you insist-"

~~~~~~~

She neatly folded the night wear of her friends and carefully tuck them in her peach floral bag. They often had sleepovers- so they made their own stash in her almirah. She picked up her comb and pulled up her hairs in a ponytail with scrunchie, before putting the comb in the bag along with some other toiletries and zipped up the bag.

She looked around to check if she forgot anything and noticed the balcony. Did she lock it? She turned the knob and pushed forward, shivering at the sudden gust of cold wind. She tightened the woolen cardigan, she had worn over her peach night pajama set and paused as she spotted two figures huddled around the familiar luxurious sedan.

Arshiya looked at Vihaan as he helped her father load some rolled up quilts, pillows and bags in the trunk of his car. Her father muttered something to him, and his face broke in a heart-breaking smile as if he agreed with what her father said before he burst out laughing. It seemed he broke through the walls of his father too after pulling his charms over her mother.

The effort- no stop, Arshiya! It was all a lie, everything, this care, this new friendship!

Friendship? What friendship? Arshiya bit her lower lip to prevent the sob from escaping her lips. The man looked hesitant admitting it! So, she would not be shameless to insist that-that they were something.

She stepped back into her room and closed the glass door of the balcony, before locking it and stepped out of the room with her bag after switching off the lights. She hurried downstairs and pushed opened the main door and two pairs of eyes turned to look at her, one holding it with a smile and other letting it wander down- taking her in, before he finally stepped out to take the bag from her hands.

"Here! Let me." He held out of his hand and her heartbeat quickened as she was reminded of what happened in the corridor. She flushed at her thoughts and relented, admitting her defeat. Vihaan smiled and put her bag in the trunk of the car and at the same time, Anita stepped out of the house, holding a jute basket in her hand, the dinner.

"Anita! What are you doing?" Rakesh eyed the heavy basket in her hands and Anita looked at him with an innocent smile.

"Um- carrying the baskets!"

"You should have called me instead of carrying all the baskets alone." Rakesh chided his wife as he took the basket from her hand and placed it on the backseat of the car.

"It doesn't weigh that much!" She argued as she narrowed her eyes at her husband.

"Right." He snorted tauntingly and his wife glared at him, before walking back into the house.

"Now, where are you going Anita?" Rakesh called out after his wife and she smiled mischievously.

"There is another basket, Rakesh ji!" She answered in a sing-song voice and he followed her with a sigh.

"Anita!"

"Fine!" Arshiya heard her mother bellow in dismay which was followed by a series of clatters and Arshiya bit her lip in amusement as she saw the murderous clouds on her mother's face as she stepped out of the house empty handed. She gingerly sat down on the backseat of the car and placed the basked on her lap, before closing the door.

Arshiya's eyes widened as she took in her father's smug expression as he leisurely locked the house and put another basket in the backseat of the car.

"Papa?" She raised a questioning eyebrow at her father and he winked at her.

"It was her favorite cutlery set! Of course, she had to agree." He said smugly and Vihaan looked thoroughly amused. One thing that he had learned till now was that no one dared come between Anita Sharma and her kitchen.

"Papa! It is not fair!" She chided him and he just chuckled as he held the door open for her.

"Everything is fair in love and war."

"Papa."

"Alright, come sit."

Arshiya looked at her father in disbelief. Just on the way to their house, it seemed that he was uncomfortable about asking Vihaan Malhotra for help but now it seemed that he co-owned the car with him.

"Pa-"

"Shall we go?"

Arshiya jumped slightly as she heard his voice behind her and her mouth pursed shut. When did he move so close to her? She had not even heard him. She rushed ahead and scrambled inside the luxurious sedan to sit down beside her mother.

Remember Arshiya, he is just here, because of Vani and not because of the sudden friendship you forced on him.

Hold it in.

Everything will return to the way it was once Vani got better.

Just hold it till then.

But what should she hold on?

She didn't understand.

~~~~~~~~~~

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